Courses in Astrophotography

Mars Apparition 2009-2010.

The 2009-10 apparition of Mars is again well placed for northern observers. The declination is again favourable reaching +23º in the constellation Cancer, while the disk diameter reaches 14.1 arc seconds at opposition time on January 28th and remaining well placed throughout the post opposition period into the Summer. The northern hemisphere of Mars is also favourably tilted toward Earth.

Mars on February 26th, 2010. Diam=12.32". Solis Lacus is central. Extensive clouds across the Martian disk.

Mars on February 20-21st, 2010. Diam=12.86". Very good seeing. The Elysium region is prominent in this view. Also note the brilliant orographic cloud over Olympus Mons over on the left side of the disk.

Mars on February 17th, 2010. Diam=13.13". The Elysium region is prominent in this view. Also note the brilliant orographic cloud over Olympus Mons over on the left side of the disk.

Mars on February 10th, 2010. Diam=13.64". Syrtis Major is prominent, with the "tuning fork" projection at Sinus Gomer nice visible. Bright orographic clouds over the Elysium region.

Mars on January 31st, 2010. Diam=14.06". The blue Syrtis cloud is very prominent in these images. Note the bright spot on the edge of the NPC - this is the frosted crater Lomonosov.

Mars on January 30th, 2010. Diam=14.07". Syrtis Major is appearing at left, while Sinus Meridiani is centreal. Bright clouds over Tharsis/Tempe extending into Chryse. Note the blue Syrtis cloud over the tip of Syrtis Major.

Mars on January 29th, 2010. Diam=14.09". Just a few hours past opposition for 2010.Dust clouds are visible over the NPC spreading out into the Baltia region. Syrtis Major is just appearing on the limb.

Mars on January 26-27th, 2010. Diam=14.10". Good seeing. Chryse, Mare Acidalium and Erythraeum visible. Solis Lacus is prominent as are the projections from Aurorae Sinus. Note the various clouds and hazes across the Planet.

Mars on January 23rd, 2010. Diam=14.06". Fair seeing and shot through a brief gap in the clouds. Solis Lacus dominates this view, with haze over Chryse. The NPC thawing continues with details visible through it.

Mars on January 17th, 2010. Diam=13.83". Poor seeing. The Elysium and Tharsis regions of Mars are well seen. Note the bright cloud over the giant Olympus Mons volcano to the left.

Mars on January 4th, 2010. Diam=12.93". Fair to Good seeing. Syrtis Major is centrre, with the summer albedo remnant of the NPC now visible through the cap itself. Some weak clouds over Libya and Hellas.

Mars on January 1st, 2010. Diam=12.68". Poor seeing again. Syrtis Major moving off at left, with Mare Acidalium/Erythraeum coming on at right with Sinus Meridiani central. A faint rift is visible in the NPC.

Mars on December 27th, 2009. Diam=12.22". Poor seeing. Mare Acidalium, Sinus Meridiani and Mare Erythraeum are all prominent in these images. The North Polar Cap is well defined.

Mars on December 23rd, 2009. Diam=11.85". Very poor transparency and rapidly thickening fog prevented any colour images though some interesting details were still recorded in this red light image. Note the North Polar cap is well defined.

Mars on December 21st, 2009. Diam=11.66". Very poor seeing, though some interesting details were still recorded. Misty haze over Chryse and Tharsis. The Argyre basin is also bright. Solis Lacus is rotating into view.

Mars on December 16th, 2009. Diam=11.19". Very prominent orographic clouds over all the major Tharsis volcanoes which intensify as the volcanoes approach the terminator.

Mars on December 11th, 2009. Diam=10.74". Tharsis is appearing on the limb in these images with prominent orographic clouds visible over Olympus and Arsia Mons.

Mars on October 23th, 2009. Diam=7.48". The famous Syrtis Major is central in these images with the Hellas basin to the south. Ismenius Lacus is prominent along sith Boreo Syrtis to the north of Syrtis.

Mars on October 13th, 2009. Diam=7.06". The Chryse hemisphere is nicely on view here. Note the weak haze over Argyre, and extensive North Polar Hood.

Mars on September 26th, 2009. Diam=6.48". Mare Cimmerium, and the Elysium region are the primary features on view here.

Mars on September 19th, 2009. Diam=6.27". Sinus Meridiani is central in these images with interesting details in the hazy North Polar Hood. Again very little activity in the Blue light image.

Mars on September 18th, 2009. Diam=6.25". Sinus Meridiani is central in these images with interesting details in the hazy North Polar Hood. Again very little activity in the Blue light image.

Mars on September 17th, 2009. Diam=6.22". Sinus Meridiani is central in these images with interesting details in the hazy North Polar Hood. Again very little activity in the Blue light images.

Mars on September 10th, 2009. Diam=6.04". Solis Lacus is again very prominent in this series of images. Mare Acidalium is also prominent. Very little cloud activity present in the Blue Light images.

Mars on September 9th, 2009. Diam=6.02". Solis Lacus is very prominent in this series of images. Mare Acidalium is also prominent. Very little cloud activity present in the Blue Light images.

Mars on August 19th, 2009. Diam=5.59". Mare Cimmerium and the Elysium areas are nicely placed in these images. Faint clouds and hazes are visible in the Blue light image.

Mars on August 9th, 2009. Diam=5.43". The first set of images obtained for the apparition. Syrtis Major and Hellas are prominent.